Automobile



Aug. 6, 1940. c JQBST Y 2.210.590

AUTOMOBILE Filed Aug. 30, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l [N VENTOR A TTbRNE YS C. JOBST AUTOMOBILE Aug. 6, 1940.

- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1937 INVENTOR CONARD JOBST I A TTORNEYS C. JOBST AUTOMOBILE Aug. 6, 1940.

Filed Aug. 30, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 11v VENTOR CONRAD JOB ST zWQ MM A TTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2m /Wd-M- C. JOBST AUTOMOBILE Aug. 6, 1940.

Filed Aug. 50, 1937 Aug. 6, 1940. c 40551 2.210.590

AUTOMOBILE Filed Aug. 30, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJIS.

INVENTOR CONRAD JOBST 21W Maw/F? W A TTYOIRNE VS Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a convertible automobile and more particularly to a novel top structure therefor.

It is an object of the invention to provide a top portion for an automobile which can quickly and easily be moved into concealed position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a top for a vehicle comprising a rigid rear top portion, side rails for connecting said rear top portion to the windshield of the vehicle and a unitary flexible metal top closure member adapted to be concealed within the rear top member or to be extended between the side rails to abut the windshield and to completely enclose the vehicle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel mechanism for moving the flexible top closure relative to the vehicle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel, quickly demountable securing means for the parts of my improved vehicle top.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a demountable top for a vehicle having only two removable parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide side rails connecting the rear top closure and the windshield which have sealing. means adapted to cooperate with the conventional windows carried in the doors of the vehicle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide guiding means for the flexible metal top closure which have efiicient weatherproofing means therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flexible metal top closure for a vehicle which is highly flexible in one direction and substantially inflexible in a direction at right angles to the first mentioned direction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flexible metal top closure for a vehicle body, said top closure being mounted in parallel opposed grooves and said top closure being flexible in a direction parallel to the grooves and substantially inflexible in a direction perpendicular to the grooves.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a slidable flexible metal top closure member for a vehicle which has aligned perforations therein and to provide a cooperating toothed wheel for moving said top closure member.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a toothed wheel for moving the slidable top closure member and an improved ratchet mechanism for rotating the wheel.

Other objects will be apparent as this description proceeds and when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of a vehicle with my improved top in operative position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of my improved 5 top structure;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the vehicle with portions broken away;

Fig. 4 is a. section on the lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5is a section on the lines 5'-5 of Fig. 2; 10

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the lines 1-! of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the lines 8-8 15 of Fi 2;

Fig. 9 is a section of the ratchet mechanism taken on the lines 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken on the lines |||--|0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on the lines of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a modified form.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line |3--|3 of Fig. 12. 25

The top structure shown in the accompanying figures is adapted to be completely housed within the body portion of the vehicle, or to be rigidly and solidly held in operative position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this figure I have illustrated a vehicle having a. windshield H], a rear top portion 40, side rails 20 connecting the rear top portion and the windshield, and a top closure 3|].

The rear top member 40, as best seen in Fig. 4, comprises two' sector-shaped side members 4| which are pivotally mounted at and which are interconnected by a thin metal plate 45. The plate 45 is attached to side members 4| by suitable securing means 48. A packing 41 of suitable material may be provided to insure water tight relationship between the parts. This metal plate 45 is adapted to form part of the outside top of the vehicle when the slidable top closure 30 is in forward position, and in addition structurally interconnects members 4|. Journaled in depending lugs on the plates 4| and extending 45 therebetween, as best seen in Fig. 8, isa rotatable rod 10 to which is connected mechanism for moving the top closure 30.

Side rails 20 are detachably connected to the r sector-shaped side members 4| by an arrangement best illustrated in Fig. 6. A screw-threaded stud 50 is permanently secured to the members 4| and a nut 5| is threaded onto the projecting end thereof, preferably in non-detachable relation. "Two projecting'pins 49 are positioned adjacent the stud 59 and are adapted to form additional guiding and securing means for the side rails 29. The side rails 29 have apertures 25 adapted to fit over the pins 49. A laterally open recess 2| is formed in one end of each of the rails 29. The arrangement is such that this recess may be slipped over the stud 59 in back of the nut and the nut 5| tightened down thereon with a minimum amount of time and effort. The opposite end of the side rails 29 have similar provisions for being detachably secured to the frame member II forming the top of the windshield I9. A strip 24 of suitable material serves as ion and sealing means for the usual adstable side window I.

The arrangement just described contributes materially to the ease of conversion from an open to a closed vehicle. The side bars are locked in accurately positioned relation on the rear top, the rear top is pivoted into operative position. The bars 29 are guided into position adjacent the windshield frame II, with the locking means automatically engaged by the simple swinging movement of the rear top. All that remains is to turn up the lock nuts a turn or so.

With the rear top member 49 and the side rails 29 in assembled position as shown in Fig. 4, the parts are maintained with extreme rigidity and in rattle-proof relation.

The rear top member 49 has curved opposed grooves 44 formed in side plates 4|. As best seen in Fig. 11, these grooves 44 in the side members 4| are of considerable depth and have a grommet 46 received therein. This grommet is of suitable material to insure sealing relationship between the members 4| and 39. The dimensions of these parts are such that when the top closure 39 is retracted to its extreme rearward position, it will be entirely housed within the rear top member 49.

As best seen in Fig. 5, the rear top member 49 is pivotally mounted at 99. The door pillar 8 of the vehicle frame has secured thereto by suitable securing means 92 a block 9|. This block is interposed between the door pillar and outside panel 9 of the vehicle. On an upwardly projecting portion of the block 9| is mounted a pivot pin 94. This pin 94, as seen in Fig. 5, has a shoulder portion 98 which abuts the projection and is clamped thereto by a nut 95. The opposite end of the pivot pin 94 has a head thereon and received between this head and the projection is the corner of the sector-shaped plate 4|. As can readily be seen, this plate is mounted for free rotation, nut 95 merely clamping the shoulder 98 against the projection of block 9|.

The rear top member 49 is intended to be pivoted about the pivot 99 into a concealed position within the body of the vehicle. As best seen in Fig. 4, the body of the vehicle is formed so as to provide a recess which will receive the rear top member when it is swung downwardly and rearwardly. Secured to the back of the seat I5 of the vehicle is a suitable resilient stop I'I against which an edge of the rear top member rests when in concealed position. Also secured to the back of the seat I5 of the vehicle is a box I6 which may receive the detachable side rails 29 when they are the vehicle and to seal the interior of the vehicle at this point in weatherproof relation. Other sealing provision may be made, or suitable drainage provided to prevent ingress of water.

Received within the opposed parallel slots 44 in the rear top member 49 is a unitary flexible metal top closure member 39. Mechanism to be described in detail is carried by the rear top member 49 to slide the top closure member 39 in the grooves. When the side rails 29 are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the grooves 22in the side rails are continuations of the grooves 44 formed in the rear top member. As seen in Fig. 6, these grooves have relatively deep grommets 23 of rubber or other suitable material which will provide an adequate weather seal.

The top adjusting mechanism, best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, comprises a shaft I9 journaled in apertures 5| in projections II formed on the side members 4|. This shaft has secured thereto at each end a collared flange I2 pinned to the shaft I9 by a pin I3. Flanges I2 have peripheral teeth I4 therein. The flexible top closure member 39 has aligned apertures 32 alongeach side thereof in which the teeth 14 engage. It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft I9 in either direction will cause the flexible top closure member 39 to slide along the grooves in the side rails 29 and in the rear top member.

In order to provide for each manipulation of the top I provide a ratchet assembly attached to the shaft I9, best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This assembly comprises a ratchet wheel 15 with teeth I'I rigidly attached to the shaft I9 by a screw I6. In order to provide for operation of the wheel in either direction, I provide a handle 8| with upwardly projecting apertured lugs 84 adapted to be rotatably mounted on the shaft I9, on either side of the ratchet wheel I5. A uni-directional dog I8 is mounted in the handle 8| and is,biased toward the ratchet wheel I5 by a spring 89. As best seen in Fig. 9, oscillation of the handle 8| will cause the engaging portion 19 of the dog 18 to engage the ratchet wheel I5 and to rotate the same in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in The flexible top closure member 39 has on its forward edge an angle member 3|, best seen in Fig. 7. This member is adapted to abut the frame portion II of the windshield and to serve as a stop means. The frame member II has a groove I2 formed therein and a grommet I3 positioned in the groove. When the flexible top 39 is moved to its extreme forward position, its forward edge will enter the groove I2 where the grommet I3 will maintain a sealed relationship between the parts.

The slidable top closure member 39 may be formed of a suitable sheet metal of sufficient rigidity to permit its being moved in the groove in the manner set forth. While I havefound that a single sheet of metal is suitable for this flexible top closure member, I have illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 a modified form of top closure with the rail II.

which offers certain advantages over a single thiclcness of sheet metal. In these figures I have illust 'ated both the slidable top closure member and the closure portion interconnecting side plates 4| as formed by the same construction. In this modification, a generally smooth sheet I30 is attached to a second corrugated sheet I35 by suitable means. Preferably a permanent attachment is accomplished by welding the tangent portions of the corrugated sheet I35 to the sheet I30. This forms closed spaces I33 between adjacent corrugations and these may be filled with suitable insulating material if desired. The construction of the closure member interconnecting side plates 4| is similar. A generally smooth sheet of metal I45 is secured to a corrugated sheet I4 I, preferably by welding and the resulting enclosed spaces I43 may be filled with suitable insulating material if desired. This last construction offers several advantages over the use of a single sheet of metal as top members. As will be readily understood, a sheet formed as shown in Fig. 13 will retain its flexibility in one direction, but due to the corrugations will be substantially inflexible in a direction at right angles thereto. Since the movable top closure member is to be received between opposed parallel slots, it will be appreciated that any flexibility in a direction perpendicular to these slots would be undesirable, and if too great, would lead to leakage between the slot and edges of the top member. By employing the construction illustrated in Fig. 13, the top closure member is substantially inflexible in a direction perpendicular to the slots.

Another aspect of my invention resides in the relationship between the windshield and the top structure. I have found that by placing the windshield ID at sufiicient great angle to the vertical, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there will be substantially no eddy currents felt within the space occupied by passengers of the vehicle when the top 30 is in retracted position. This is largely due to the inclination of the windshield but is due in part also, I believe, to the fact that when the top is in inoperative position, it is completely enclosed within the body of the vehicle and presents no surfaces which tend to create eddy currents. I have found that with the top 30 of my vehicle in its concealed position, it is possible to drive without the unpleasant eddy currents normally felt in vehicles of this general type when driven with the top down.

I wish particularly to call attention to the rigidity and facility with which my improved top may be raised from concealed position and placed into operative position. The first step is to attach the side rails 20 to the rear top portion 60. This is accomplished by slipping the end plate of the side rails 20 over the nuts 5| and} tightening this nut which may be accomplished in a fraction of a turn. The rear top portion 40 is then swung into upright position and the side rails 20 are thereby guided into operative engagement with the rail II of the windshield. Due to the fact that pins 49 have positioned the side rails accurately, the rails will be guided intoe accurate cooperating relationship In order to rigidly secure the rail 20 to the windshield II it is only necessary to take a fractional turn on the nut l5. The steps so far recited can be executed by anyone in a few seconds, and the resulting structure is assembled in rigid rattle-proof relationship.

With the parts in this position, the top directly over the driver's seat, as can be seen in Fig. 4, is open to the elements. I have found that with the top 30 in its retracted position,

an improved ventilation effect is obtained. An adequate supply of fresh air is introduced into the vehicle and at the same time the undesirable drafts and eddy currents in the car are avoided. It will also be apparent, of course, that this arrangement will permit at certain times exposure of the occupant of the car to sunlight, if so desired.

As previously defined, the side rails 20 form abutments for the top of the conventional windows in the doors of the vehicle, and with the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 4, the windows may be raised or lowered at will. When in their raised position they will abut suitable sealing means onside rails and maintain the sides of the top of the vehicle in weatherproof relation.

If it is desired to close the top of the vehicle, it is necessary only to oscillate the handle 8i back and forth. As previously explained in connection with the ratchet mechanism, this handle may be operative to move the top from its retracted position within the top rear portion 40 to a position where it abuts the windshield frame II or vice versa. The mechanism provided for moving the top closure 30 is simple in the extreme and provides a very easy and rapid mechanism for adjusting the top 30 to desired position. It is of course understood that the top 30 may be left in retracted position or in closed position, or in any intermediate position and is so constructed that if in an intermediate portion, it is rigidly supported in rattle-proof relation.

While I have illustrated and described various preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additions, omissions, substitutions and modifications may be made within the scope of my invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A convertible vehicle comprising a body portion having a windshield frame and a recess at the top rear thereof, an arcuate shaped solid rear top pivoted to said body adjacent said recess and adapted to be completely housed within said recess or to be pivoted therefrom into operative position, rigid side rails adapted to interconnect said rear top and said windshield frame, said rear top having curved opposed parallel grooves substantially concentric withsaid arcuate rear top and the pivot point of said rear top, said rails having opposed grooves formed therein in registry with the grooves in said rear top, and a flexible metal top slidable in said grooves and adapted to be completely concealed in said rear top or projected therefrom to span the area between the rear top and the windshield frame.

2. A convertible vehicle comprising a body portion having a windshield frame and a recess at the top rear thereof, a solid rear top pivoted to said body adjacent said recess and adapted to be completely housed within said recess or to be pivoted therefrom into operative position, rigid side rails adapted to interconnect said rear top and said windshield frame, said rear :top having curved guiding means therein and said rails having guiding means therein, and a longitudinally flexible sheet top slidably engaging said curved guiding means and adapted to be completely concealed in said rear top or projected therefrom in sliding engagement with said guiding-means in said rails to span the area between said rear top and said windshield frame.

a 4- l v 23103590 3. A convertible vehicle comprising a, body portion having a windshield frame and a. recess at the top rear thereof, an arcuatei-shaped solid rear top pivoted to said body adjacent said recess and adapted to be completely housed within said re- ,cess or to be pivoted therefrom into operative position, rigid side rails adapted to be secured at one end to said rear top to project upwardly therefrom when said top is in said recess, positioning means for retaining said rails in predetermined position relative to said rear top, said rear top having curved opposed parallel grooves therein, said rails having opposed grooves formed therein in registry with said curved grooves, and a longitudinally flexible sheet top slidably engaging said curved grooves and adapted to be completely concealed in said rear top or projected therefrom to engage the grooves in said side rails to span the area between said rear top and said windshield frame.

CONRAD JOBST. I 

